texas margin tax emerging issues in texas state taxation the university of texas school of law 5 th...

Texas Margin TaxEmerging Issues in Texas State Taxation

The University of Texas School of Law

5th Annual Texas Margin Tax Conference

September 1, 2011 – Austin, TexasSeptember 7, 2011 – Dallas, Texas

September 8, 2011 – Houston, Texas

Steven D. MooreJackson Walker L.L.P.100 Congress Avenue, Suite 1100Austin, Texas [email protected]

William H. HornbergerJackson Walker L.L.P.901 Main Street, Suite 6000Dallas, Texas [email protected]

© 2011 William H. Hornberger and Steven D. Moore

IRS Circular 230 Notice: The statements contained herein are not intended to and do not constitute an opinion as to any tax or other matter. They are not intended or written to be used, and may not be relied upon, by you or any other person for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under any Federal tax law or otherwise.

2

Arrangements Treated as Co-Ownerships for Federal Income Tax Purposes………………………………………………………………………………………Co-Ownership (Limited Partnership/Individual) of Real Estate………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

General Partnership Structures ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...General Partnership the Direct Ownership of Which is Entirely Composed of Natural Persons – Partners for U.S. Federal Income Tax

Purposes………….General Partnership the Direct Ownership of Which is Entirely Composed of Natural Persons – S Corporation for U.S. Federal Income Tax

Purposes…...General Partnership Consisting of Natural Persons and Another General Partnership as Partners – Partnership for U.S. Federal Income Tax

Purposes…General Partnership with Estate as Partner - Partnership for U.S. Federal Income Tax

Purposes…………………………………………………………………General Partnership with Corporations as Partners – Partnership for U.S. Federal Income Tax

Purposes………………………………………………………..General Partnership with Trusts as Partners ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..General Partnership Owned by Husband and Wife as Community Property …………………………………………………………………………………………

Structures Treated as Sole Proprietorships or Divisions of a Corporation or Partnership for Federal Income Tax Purposes……………………………Sole Proprietorship for Federal Income Tax and Texas Margin Tax Purposes ………………………………………………………………………………………Single-Member (Individual) Limited Liability Company Owning Operating Business – Disregarded for U.S. Federal Income Tax

Purposes…………………Single-Member (C Corporation) Limited Liability Company Owning Operating Business – Disregarded for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes……………Single-Member (S Corporation) Limited Liability Company Owning Operating Business – Disregarded for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes……………Single-Member (Limited Partnership) Limited Liability Company Owning Operating Business – Disregarded for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes……..Single-Member (Limited Partnership) Limited Liability Company Owning Operating Business – Disregarded for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes

/ Affiliated Group Illustration………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………Single-Person (Individual) Limited Partnership Owning Operating Business – Disregarded for U.S. Federal Income Tax

Purposes………………………….Single-Person (Corporation) Limited Partnership Owning Operating Business – Disregarded for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes……………………….Single-Person (Limited Partnership) Limited Partnership Owning Operating Business – Disregarded for U.S. Federal Income Tax

Purposes………………Case Study on a Common Tiered Structure ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Limited Liability Partnership …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Limited Liability Partnership - Illustration ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Bankruptcy Estate of an Individual………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Comptroller’s Position Regarding Treatment of the Bankruptcy Estate of An Individual…………………………………………………………………………….

Other Controlling Interest and Combined Reporting Issues …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Combined Reporting 2011…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Combined Group Analysis…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Combined Report Membership is BLIND…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Definition of Controlling Interest,,………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Controlling Interest – Example 1 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Controlling Interest – Example 2 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Controlling Interest – Example 3 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Controlling Interest – Example 4 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

6789

101112131415161718192021

222324252627282930313233343536373839

3

Combined Reporting Issues……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Partnership Capital or Profits Interest…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………..…

Selected Additional Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Company Issues………………………………………………………………………………..Minority Interest Owners and Calculation of Total Revenue for Combined Report Purposes…………………………………………………………….….….

…Selected Community Property Considerations ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….….….

….Non-Texas Entity Owning Interest in Oil and Gas Well in Texas…………………………………………………………………………………………………..….

Trusts ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…..……….…….Grantor Trust with Individual Grantor and Beneficiary…. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….Grantor Trust with Sole Corporate Grantor and Beneficiary ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..……Complex Trust with Individual Grantor and Multiple Individual Beneficiaries …………………………………………………………………………………..

……Complex Discretionary Trust Example………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..……

Passive Entities ……………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………….….Oil and Gas Example (Sale of Assets)………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………..Oil and Gas Example (Sale of Interests)………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………….…Example 1 …………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………..……………..…Example 2 …………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………............................…………….…Example 3 …………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………............................…………….…Example 4 …………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………............................…………….…Planning for Conversion to a Limited Partnership……………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………….…

Joint Operating Arrangements …………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………..…………….…Joint Operating Agreement ………………………………………………………………………………………………………................................………….……Active/Passive ……………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………......................………….……

Cash Purchase of Sub Stock with Section 338(h)(10) Election……………………………………….…………………………………………….……………….Joint & Several Liability …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….................................

Joint & Several Liability – Illustration No. 1……………………………………….……………………………………………………......................……………….Joint & Several Liability – Illustration No. 2 ……………………………………….……………………………………………………......................………………Joint & Several Liability – Illustration No. 3……………………………………….…………………………………………………….......................………………Major Apportionment Issues for Transaction Attorneys……………………………………………………………………………………................………………

Major Sources of Texas Receipts……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….…..Selected Statutory References……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Transacting Business in Texas for Purposes of Determining Whether Foreign Entity Must Register to Transact Business in Texas………………………..

Nexus for Texas Franchise Tax Purpose………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Unitary Business……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172

4

Selected Texas Administrative Code References………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Nexus for Texas Franchise Tax Purposes………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Unitary Business…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

Selected Comptroller’s Frequently Asked Questions………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Unitary Business……………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………........

Selected Other References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Transacting Business in Texas for Purposes of Determining Whether Foreign Entity Must Register to Transact Business in Texas………………………...

Combined Reporting for Texas Franchise Tax Purposes………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

CONSIDERATIONS FOR ACQUISITIONS IN A RECOVERING ECONOMY…………………………………………………………………………………………..Taxable Asset Sale by Individual………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Direct Purchase of Business Assets from Limited Partnership for Cash…………………………………………………………Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Direct Purchase of Assets from C Corporation for Cash ………………………………………………………………………….Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Direct Purchase of Assets from S Corporation for Cash …………………………………………………………………………Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Direct Purchase of Assets for Cash and Note ……………………………………………………………………………………..Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Acquisition of Interest in Single-Member Limited Liability Company for Cash; Cash is Retained by Seller and is not

contributed to the LLC ………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………………Compare: Acquisition of Interest in Single-Member Limited Liability Company for Cash Contributed to Company…………………………………………….Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: 50% Co-Owner’s Acquisition of Other Co-Owner’s Interest in Limited Liability Company…………………………………….Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: 100% of Interests in Multi-Member Limited Liability Company by Unrelated Person…………………………………………..Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Acquisition of 100% of Partnership Interests in Limited Partnership (Not a Disregarded Entity) by Unrelated Person…….One Person Partnership – Rev. Rul. 2004-77 ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………..Disregarded Partnership Structure ………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………..Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Acquisition of Interest in Disregarded Entity with Assets for Cash from Multiple – Member Limited

Partnership……………Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Purchase of Less than 50% Interest in Multi-Member Partnership or Limited Liability

Company……………………………..Oil and Gas Example (Sale of Assets) ………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………Oil and Gas Example (Sale of Interests) …………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………….Sale of Partnership Interest State Law ………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………

Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Example of Reverse Subsidiary Cash Merger…..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Acquisition of C Corporation – Regular §338 Election ……………………………………………………………………………Cash Purchase of Sub Stock With Section 338(h)(10) Election ………………………………………………………….……………………………………………Tax-Free Transfer of Assets to Partnership ………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………….Tax-Free Transfer of Assets to Corporation ………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………….

7374777879808182

848586878889

90919293949596979899100101

102103104105106

5

Selected Forms of Nontaxable Reorganizations …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Illustration of Forms of Nontaxable Acquisitions: Type A Reorganization…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Illustration of Forms of Nontaxable Acquisitions: Type A Reorganization (Merged into Disregarded LLC Owned by P) ……………………………………….

Illustration of Forms of Nontaxable Acquisitions: Type B Reorganization …………………………………………………………………………………………….

Illustration of Forms of Nontaxable Acquisitions: Type C Reorganization …………………………………………………………………………………………….

Illustration of Forms of Nontaxable Acquisitions: Type D Acquisitive Reorganization ……………………………………………………………………………….

Examples of Forms of Nontaxable Acquisitions ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Example 1 – Partnership Merger ………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………………….

Example 2 – Form of Merger Provided by Treasury Regulations ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Example 3 – Assets-Over Form of Merger ………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………….

Example 4 – Treatment of Interests Over Form of Merger ………………………………………………………….………………………………………….……….

Cash Out of Partner as Part of Partnership Merger ………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………..

107

108

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

116

117

118

Arrangements Treated as Co-Ownerships for Federal Income

Tax Purposes

7

Federal Income Tax ConsiderationsCf. Rev. Proc. 2002-22 Ruling Guidelines

• Tenancy in common ownership• Number of co-owners• No treatment of co-ownership as an entity• Co-ownership agreement• Voting• Restrictions on alienation• Sharing proceeds and liabilities from sale of the property• Proportionate sharing of profits and issues• Proportionate sharing of debt• Options• No business activities• Management and brokerage documents• Leasing agreements• Loan agreements• Payments to sponsor

Texas Margin Tax Considerations

• §171.002(a): Taxable entity “means a partnership . . . joint venture . . . or other legal entity.”

• Cf. Comp. Rule 3.581(b)(15) (“Partnership – A relationship referred to in Business Organizations Code §152.051 and Revised Partnership Act Article 6132b-2.02.”), Comp. Rule 3.581(b)(6) (“General partnership – A partnership as described in Revised Partnership Act, Article 6132-1.01 et. seq., or Business Organizations Code, Title 4, Chapter 152, or an equivalent statute in another jurisdiction.”).

• Cf. §171.1011(c)(3) (“Except as provided by this section and subject to Section 171.1014, for the purpose of computing its taxable margin under Section 171.101, the total revenue of a taxable entity is . . . for a taxable entity other than a taxable entity treated for federal income tax purposes as a corporation or partnership, an amount determined in a manner substantially equivalent to the amount for subdivision (1) or (2) determined by rules that the Comptroller shall adopt.”); see Tex. Bus. Org. Code §152.052 (rules for determining if partnership created).

LimitedPartnership

A

Real Property

% Undivided

50 Interest

Co-Ownership (Limited Partnership / Individual) of Real Estate

Individual B

% Undivided

50 Interest

General Partnership Structures

9

Federal Income Tax Considerations

• General Partnership should be treated as a partnership unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. §301.7701-3.)


• Should not be a taxable entity. (§171.0002(b)(2).)• See Comp. Rule 3.581(d)(2) (nontaxable entities include “general partnerships where direct

ownership is composed entirely of natural persons, and the liability of those persons is not limited (e.g. by registration as a limited liability partnership) under a statute of this state or another state.”).

• See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.581, Q&A 2 (“The revised franchise tax does not apply to: sole proprietorships (except the tax does apply to single member LLCs filing as a sole proprietor for federal income tax purposes); general partnerships directly and solely owned by natural persons (except the tax does apply to all limited liability partnerships); entities exempt under Subchapter B of Chapter 171; and passive entities (as defined under TTC 171.0003).”); Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.581, Q&A 3 (“A general partnership directly and entirely owned by natural persons is a not a taxable entity.”).

GeneralPartnership

Mr. A

Mr. B Mrs. C

Ms. D

General Partnership the Direct Ownership of Which is Entirely Composed of Natural Persons – Partnership for U.S. Federal

Income Tax Purposes

Texas Operating Business

10


• Example assumes entity is treated as an S corporation.


• Should not be a taxable entity. (§171.0002(b)(2).)

GeneralPartnership

[ S Corporation for Federal Income Tax Purposes]

Mr . A

Mr . B Mrs . C

Ms. D

General Partnership the Direct Ownership of Which is Entirely Composed of Natural Persons – S Corporation for U.S. Federal

Income Tax Purposes


11


• General Partnership should be treated as a partnership unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. §301.7701-3.)


• Comptroller’s position is that the ABCD General Partnership is a taxable entity. See Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.581, Q&A 5 (“Is a general partnership whose partners consists of natural persons and one general partnership a taxable entity? Yes, a general partnership must be composed directly and entirely of natural persons to be a nontaxable entity.”).

ABCDGeneral

Partnership

Mr. A

Mr. BMrs. C

Ms. D

General Partnership With Natural Persons and Another General Partnership as Partners – Partnership for U.S. Federal Income

Tax Purposes


EFGeneral

Partnership

Mr. E Ms. F

12


• GPS should be treated as a partnership unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. §301.7701-3.)


• GPS should not be a taxable entity because direct ownership of GPS is entirely composed of human beings or the estate of a human being.

• See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.581, Q&A 6 (“The estate of a natural person is not a taxable entity. Therefore, a general partnership composed entirely of natural persons will not become a taxable entity because of the estate of a deceased partner.”).

GeneralPartnership

( “GPS”)


General Partnership with Estate as Partner – Partnership for U.S. Federal

Income Tax Purposes

IndividualA

IndividualB

Individual CDate of Death: 8/1/07

Estate of Individual C8/1/07 to 12/31/07

1/31/3

1/3

13


• GPS should be treated as a partnership unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. §301.7701-3.)


• GPS should be a taxable entity because the direct ownership is not entirely comprised of natural persons.

GeneralPartnership

(“GPS”)

CorporationA

CorporationB


50% GP 50% GP

General Partnership with Corporations as Partners – Partnership for U.S.

Federal Income Tax Purposes

14


• General partnership or joint venture will be treated as a partnership unless election made to treat entity as a corporation. (See Treas. Reg. § 301.7701-3.)


• Unless entity is a passive entity, it should be classified as a taxable entity for Texas margin tax purposes because the entity is not composed solely of natural persons. See §171.0002(b)(2) (“‘Taxable entity’ does not include: (1) a sole proprietorship; (2) a general partnership: (A) the direct ownership of which is entirely composed of natural persons; and (B) the liability of which is not limited under a statute of this state or another state, including by registration as a limited liability partnership;”); §171.0001(11-a) (“‘Natural person’ means a human being or the estate of a human being. The term does not include a purely legal entity given recognition as the possessor of rights, privileges, or responsibilities, such as a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or trust.”); Comp. Rule 3.581(b)(14) (same definition of “natural person” as in §171.0001(11-a)).

TexasGeneral

Partnership[ or Joint Venture]

Individual A

A’s Children

Individual B

Individual C

GrantorTrust

Complex

Trus t


20%

20%

20%20%

20%

Sole Beneficiaries

Grantor & Sole Beneficiary

General Partnership with Trusts as Partners

15


• Husband and wife can elect to treat as a disregarded entity or as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (Rev. Proc. 2002-69.)


• Should not be a taxable entity.• See also Comp. Priv. Ltr. Rul. 200609763L (Sept. 8, 2006) (“If

your small business is legally a sole proprietorship or a general partnership owned solely by you and your husband, it will not be subject to the franchise tax under HB 3.”).

General Partnership Owned by Husband and Wife as Community Property

GeneralPartnership

Husband Wife


50% 50%

Community Property

Structures Treated as Sole Proprietorships or Divisions of a

Corporation or Partnership for Federal Income Tax Purposes

17


• Texas operating business reported on federal income tax return of individual.


• Should not be a taxable entity. (§171.0002(b)(1).)• See Comp. Rule 3.581(b)(23) (“Sole proprietorship – A natural person carrying on

business, if the business is not formed in a manner that limits the liability of the owner. It does not include other entities treated as sole proprietorships for federal tax purposes, unless by statute the form of entity does not afford limited liability protection to the owner and it does not include single member limited liability companies.”).

• See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.581, Q&A 9 (“A sole proprietorship that is not legally organized in a manner that limits its liability is not a taxable entity. A single member limited liability company filing as a sole proprietor for federal income tax purposes is a taxable entity.”).

Sole Proprietorship for Federal Income Tax and Texas Margin Tax Purposes

Individual


18


• Disregarded for federal income tax purposes unless election made to treat as a corporation (Treas. Reg. § 301.7701-3(a).)


• Should be a taxable entity. (§171.0002(a))• §171.0002(d) confirms. • See Comp. Rule 3.581(d)(1) (nontaxable entities include “sole proprietorships

(does not include single member limited liability companies”)).• See also Comp. Priv. Ltr. Rul. 200609763L (Sept. 8, 2006) (“Please keep in

mind that a single member limited liability company (LLC) owned by a natural person is often treated as a sole proprietorship for federal income tax reporting purposes. This single member LLC is a taxable entity under current law and will be considered a taxable entity under HB 3.”).

SINGLE- MEMBER ( INDIVIDUAL) LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OWNING OPERATING BUSINESS – DISREGARDED FOR U.S. FEDERAL

INCOME TAX PURPOSES

Individual

Texas Limited Liability Company


19


• LLC is disregarded for federal income tax purposes unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. § 301.7701-3.)


• Do LLC and P comprise a combined group?

a) §171.1014(a) (“Taxable entities” that are part of an affiliated group engaged in a unitary business are required to file a combined group report.); see also Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(2)(“Combined group--Taxable entities that are part of an affiliated group engaged in a unitary business and that are required to file a combined group report under Tax Code, §171.1014.”).

b) Affiliated group: > 50% test (§§171.0001(1); 171.0001(8).); see Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(1)(“Affiliated group--Entities in which a controlling interest is owned by a common owner, either corporate or noncorporate, or by one or more of the member entities.”)

c) Unitary business?• See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.590, Q & A 2 (“What types of entities are included in a combined group?

A combined group can include any taxable entity, including but not limited to, pass-through entities, LLCs, S corporations and disregarded entities.”).

C Corporation(“P”)

LLC

SINGLE-MEMBER (C CORPORATION) LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OWNING

OPERATING BUSINESS – DISREGARDED FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES


20


• LLC is disregarded for federal income tax purposes unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. §301.7701-3.)


• Do LLC and P comprise a combined group?



c) Unitary business?

S Corporation(“P”)

LLC

SINGLE-MEMBER ( S CORPORATION) LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OWNING

OPERATING BUSINESS – DISREGARDED FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES


21


• LLC should be disregarded unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. §301.7701-3.)

• A should be treated as a partnership unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. §301.7701-3.)

• Treatment of LLCGP depends upon number of members and whether entity classification election is made.


• Do LLCSub, Limited Partnership A, and LLCGP comprise a combined group?


b) Affiliated group: > 50% test (§§171.0001(1); 171.0001(8).); see Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(1)(“Affiliated group--Entities in which a controlling interest is owned by a common owner, either corporate or noncorporate, or by one or more of the member entities.”); see Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(4)(E)(“Except as otherwise provided, an entity is owned when a controlling interest is directly held or the interest is constructively owned. An individual constructively owns stock that is owned by his or her spouse.”)

c) Unitary business?• See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.590, Q & A 8 (“In determining a combined group, is there attribution of ownership between family

members? An individual constructively owns stock or interest that is owned by his or her spouse. There is no other attribution of ownership between family members.”).

B

33%LP

33%LP

33%LP

100%

1% GP

SINGLE-MEMBER (LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OWNING OPERATING BUSINESS – DISREGARDED

FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES

A

B

C

Disregarded Limited Liability

Company(“LLCSub”)

Limited Liability

Company(“LLCGP”)

LimitedPartnership

A


22



• A should be treated as a partnership unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. §301.7701-3.)

• LLCGP should be treated as a partnership unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. §301.7701-3.)


• Do LLCSub, Limited Partnership A, and LLCGP comprise a combined group?a) §171.1014(a): (“Taxable entities” that are part of an affiliated group engaged in a unitary business are

required to file a combined report; see also Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(2)(“Combined group--Taxable entities that are part of an affiliated group engaged in a unitary business and that are required to file a combined group report under Tax Code, §171.1014.”).

b) Affiliated group (“means a group of one or more entities in which a controlling interest is owned by a common owner or owners, either corporate or noncorporate, or by one or more of the member entities”). (§171.0001(1): > 50% test (§171.0001(8).); see Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(1)(“Affiliated group--Entities in which a controlling interest is owned by a common owner, either corporate or noncorporate, or by one or more of the member entities.”); see also Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(4)(E)(“Except as otherwise provided, an entity is owned when a controlling interest is directly held or the interest is constructively owned. An individual constructively owns stock that is owned by his or her spouse.”).


SINGLE-MEMBER (LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OWNING OPERATING BUSINESS – DISREGARDED FOR FEDERAL

INCOME TAX PURPOSES / AFFILIATED GROUP ILLUSTRATION

33%LP

33%LP

33%LP

100%

1% GP

D

E

F



Limited Liability


LimitedPartnership

A


50%LP

50%LP

23


• Limited partnership disregarded for federal income tax purposes unless corporate treatment elected (Rev. Rul. 2004-77)

• Operating business reported on federal income tax return of Individual A


• Under § 171.0002(a), a “taxable entity” includes a limited partnership. Cf. Comp. Rule 3.581(b)(23) (“Sole Proprietorship – A natural person carrying on business if the business is not formed in a manner that limits the liability of the owner. It does not include other entities treated as sole proprietorships for federal income tax purposes unless by statute the form of entity does not afford limited liability protection to the owner and it does not include single member limited liability companies.”).

Individual A

LimitedPartnership

LLC(disregarded entity)

LP

GP

100%

SINGLE PERSON (INDIVIDUAL) LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OWNING OPERATING BUSINESS – DISREGARDED

FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES


24


• Limited partnership disregarded for federal income tax purposes unless corporate treatment elected. (Rev. Rul. 2004-77.)

• Operating business reported on corporate tax return of Delaware corporation.


• Do Delco, LLC and LP comprise a combined group?a) §171.1014(a) (“Taxable entities” that are part of an affiliated group engaged in a unitary business are required to file a combined group

report.); see also Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(2)(“Combined group--Taxable entities that are part of an affiliated group engaged in a unitary business and that are required to file a combined group report under Tax Code, §171.1014.”).


c) Unitary business?• See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.581, Q&A 13 (“The taxpayer is a disregarded entity for federal purposes. Do they have to file franchise tax if they

have nexus in Texas? Yes. The determination of responsibility for Texas franchise tax is based on the legal formation of an entity. An entity's treatment for federal income tax purposes does not determine its responsibility for Texas franchise tax. Therefore, each taxable entity that is organized in Texas or doing business in Texas is subject to franchise tax, even if it is treated as a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes. The entity is required to file a separate franchise tax report unless it is a member of a combined group. If the entity is a member of a combined group, the reporting entity may include the disregarded entity with the parent's information; in that event, both entities are presumed to have nexus.”).

• See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.590, Q & A 9 (“Does a combined group include entities meeting the ownership and unitary criteria if the entity does not have nexus in Texas? Yes, an entity meeting the ownership and unitary criteria is included in the combined group regardless of whether the entity has nexus in Texas.”).

LimitedPartnership

(“LP”)

LLC(disregarded entity)

LP

GP

100%

SINGLE PERSON (CORPORATION) LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OWNING OPERATING BUSINESS – DISREGARDED FOR

U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES


Delaware corporation

(“Delco”)

25


• LPSub should be disregarded for federal income tax purposes unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. §301.7701-3.)

• LLCSub should be disregarded unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. §301.7701-3.)


• Do LPSub, LLCSub, Limited Partnership A and LLCGP comprise a combined group?a) §171.1014(a) (“Taxable entities” that are part of an affiliated group engaged in a

unitary business are required to file a combined group report.); see also Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(2)(“Combined group--Taxable entities that are part of an affiliated group engaged in a unitary business and that are required to file a combined group report under Tax Code, §171.1014.”).



SINGLE-PERSON (LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OWNING OPERATING BUSINESS –

DISREGARDED FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES

B

33%LP

33%LP

33%LP

100%

1% GP

B

C



Limited Liability


LimitedPartnership

A


A

LimitedPartnership(“LPSub”)

99%LP

1%GP

26Case Study on a Common

Tiered Structure

LLC or LP

Texas Cardiology Practice

Group

$1M

25%

$1.5M

30%

$1M

25%$.5M

20%

Annual Gross receipts = $7 million (includes $1M medicare) Staff Compensation = $2 million ½ of the Medicare receipts are paid through a 501(c)(3) hospital

A B C D

PA1 PA2 PA3 PA4

Limited Liability Partnership

28


• LLP should be treated as partnership unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. §§301.7701-3(a), 301.7701-3(b)(1).).


• Taxable entity (§171.0002(a)); see also §171.0002(b)(2)).• See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.581, Q&A 4 (“Is a general partnership owned

directly and entirely by natural persons that elects limited liability status a taxable entity? Yes, even if a general partnership is composed entirely of natural persons, if it elects limited liability status it is a taxable entity.”).

• But cf. Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.582, Q & A 2 (“Can a limited liability partnership qualify as a passive entity? Yes. General, limited and limited liability partnerships may qualify as a passive entity.”).

LimitedLiability

Partnership(“LLP”)

Individual A

Individual B

Individual C Individual D

Individual F

Individual E

Limited Liability Partnership - Illustration

Bankruptcy Estateof an Individual

30

• See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.581, Q&A 16 (“Is a bankruptcy estate of an individual a taxable entity? The bankruptcy estate of an individual is a separate taxable entity for federal tax reporting. As a result, the estate will not be considered an extension of a natural person. If the estate holds an interest in a general partnership, the partnership will be a taxable entity.”).

Individual A

Comptroller’s Position Regarding Treatment of the Bankruptcy Estate of An Individual

Individual A’s Bankruptcy Estate

Other Controlling Interest and Combined Reporting Issues

32Combined Reporting 2011

IndividualA

X FilingLLC Entity

Y LLC

B Inc.

X LLC

100% LP 100% LP 100% LP

100% Interest

May 1, 2011

X & Y filed Combined Texas Franchise Report last three years

X was filing entity Calendar year taxpayers

Sellers file for Company X & Y file combined report 1/1/11 to 5/1/11 Y files stand-alone report 5/2/11 to 12/31/11 B responsible to file combined report in combined X

from 5/2/11 to 12/31/11

33

COMBINED GROUP ANALYSIS

Identify all entities subject to a “controlling interest”Identify all entities subject to a “controlling interest”

Identify and exclude non-taxable entities (exclude passives on annual basis)Identify and exclude non-taxable entities (exclude passives on annual basis)

Determine scope of “unitary” business and split group if appropriateDetermine scope of “unitary” business and split group if appropriate

=

COMBINED GROUPCOMBINED GROUP

34

COMBINED REPORT MEMBERSHIP IS

BLIND

To NEXUS

[Except for possible impact on unitary test]

35

Controlling Interest for Trust

> 50%, owned directly or indirectly, of the [capital, profits, or] beneficial interest in the trust

Trust

Controlling Interest for Limited Liability Company

> 50%, owned directly or indirectly, of the total membership interest of the limited liability company

or> 50%, owned directly or indirectly, of the beneficial ownership interest in the membership interest of the

limited liability company

Limited Liability Company

Controlling Interest for Corporation

> 50%, owned directly or indirectly, of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock

or

> 50% owned directly or indirectly, of the beneficial ownership interest in the voting stock of the corporation

Corporation

Controlling Interest for Partnership

> 50%, owned directly or indirectly, of the capital, profits, or beneficial interest in the partnership

Partnership

Definition of Controlling Interest

36

Controlling InterestControlling InterestExample 1Example 1

• A controls B & C

A, Inc.

B, Inc.

C, Inc.

60%

10%

41%

37


• A does not control B or C• B controls C

A, Inc.

B, Inc.

C, Inc.

15%

10%

90%

38


• A controls 1 Inc. through 10 Inc.• A controls B

1 Inc. 2 Inc. 3 Inc. 4 Inc. 7 Inc. 8 Inc. 9 Inc. 10 Inc.6 Inc.5 Inc.

B LPB LP

AA

100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%100% 100%

10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10%

39


• A controls B & C

A, Inc.

B, LP

C, LLC

70%

40%

60%

40Combined Reporting Issues

X, Inc. Y, Inc.

51% 51%49%49%

A A BB

Is this “one or more entities in which” more than 50% is “owned by a common owner or owners”?

PartnershipY

BA

PartnershipX

50%

50% 50%

50%

Comp. Prop. Rule 3.590(b)(4)(B)(vii)

• (vii) Individual A and Individual B each owns 50% of Partnership X. Individual A and Individual B each also owns 50% of Partnership Y. Individual A and Individual B are not husband and wife. Since neither individual owns more than 50% of each partnership, neither individual has a controlling interest in the partnerships.

See Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(1) (“Affiliated group--Entities in which a controlling interest is owned by a common owner, either corporate or noncorporate, or by one or more of the member entities.”)

41

• See Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(4)(F)(“ If an entity is a member of more than one affiliated group, the entity is treated as a member of the affiliated group (or part thereof) with respect to which it has a unitary relationship. If the entity has a unitary relationship with more than one of those affiliated groups, it shall elect to be treated as a member of only one group. The election shall remain in effect until the unitary business relationship between the entity and the other members ceases, or unless revoked with approval of the comptroller.”).

LimitedPartnership

LLC

.01% GP

LLCA

LLCB

40% capital52% profit

59.99% capital48.99% profit

Partnership Capital or Profits Interest

Capital and profits

Selected Additional Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability

Company Issues

43


• L.P. should be treated as a partnership unless corporate treatment elected. (Treas. Reg. §301.7701-3.)



• Do LP, LLC and BigCo comprise a combined group?a) §171.1014(a) (“Taxable entities” that are part of an affiliated group engaged in a unitary

business are required to file a combined group report.); see also Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(2)(“Combined group--Taxable entities that are part of an affiliated group engaged in a unitary business and that are required to file a combined group report under Tax Code, §171.1014.”).


c) Unitary business?d) If LP, LLC and BigCo comprise a combined group, how much of L.P.’s revenues are

includable in the total revenues of the combined group?

BigCo

Individual Partner

A

LP

LLC79% LP

1% GP

100%


Individual Partner

B

10% LP

10% LP

Minority Interest Owners and Calculation of Total Revenue for Combined Report Purposes

44


• Under Rev. Proc. 2002-69, H & W can elect to treat entities as disregarded or as partnerships for federal income tax purposes.


• Texas Limited Liability companies #1 through #4 should be “taxable entities.”

• Texas Limited Partnerships #1 and #2 should be taxable entities.• Do Texas Limited Liability Company #3 and Texas Limited

Partnership #1 comprise a combined group?• Do Texas Limited Liability Company #4 and Texas Limited

Partnership #2 comprise a combined group?

SELECTED COMMUNITY PROPERTY CONSIDERATIONS:COMPARE

IndividualH


#1

IndividualsH & W


#2

IndividualWcommunity

interest

IndividualH

IndividualsH & WIndividual

W

TexasLimited

Partnership#1

Texas Limited Liability

Company#3

communityinterest

communityinterest

100%LP

0%GP

100%

Texas Limited Liability

Company#4

TexasLimited

Partnership#2

100%

0%GP

100%

45

Oil and Gas Well in Texas

Non-TexasEntity

Non-Texas Entity Owning Interest in Oil and Gas Well in Texas

• See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.581, Q&A 12 (“Is a non-Texas entity that owns a royalty interest in an oil and gas well in Texas subject to the franchise tax?” Yes. A royalty interest in an oil and gas well is considered an interest in real property. Therefore a non-Texas entity that owns a royalty interest in an oil and gas well in Texas is considered to own real property in Texas and is subject to the franchise tax unless it is a non-taxable entity.”); Comp. Rul. 3.582 (rules for qualifying as a passive entity).

Trusts

47


• Is the trust an ordinary trust (as defined in Treas. Reg. §301.7701-4(a)) or a business trust (as defined in Treas. Reg. §301.7701-4(b))?

• Section 301.7701-4(a) of the regulations states that, in general, the term “trust” as used in the Internal Revenue Code refers to an arrangement created by will or by an inter vivos declaration whereby trustees take title to property for the purpose of protecting or conserving it for the beneficiaries under the ordinary rules applied in chancery or probate courts.

• Section 301.7701-4(b) explains that business trusts are not classified as trusts for purposes of the Code because they are not simply arrangements to protect or conserve property for the beneficiaries. Rather, business trusts generally are created by the beneficiaries simply as a device to carry on a profit-making business which normally would have been carried on through business organizations that are classified as corporations or partnerships under the Internal Revenue Code. Consequently, business trusts are classified by reference to the principles set forth in sections 301.7701-2 and 301.7701-3.

• If entity is a trust (other than a business trust) grantor treated as owner of trust and grantor includes income and deductions of trust. (I.R.C. §671; Treas. Reg. § §1.671-1, 1.671-2.)


• Entity is not a taxable entity if trust is not a business trust. (§171.0002(c)(1) (“’Taxable entity’ does not include an entity that is . . . A grantor trust as defined by Sections 671 and 7701(a)(30)(E), Internal Revenue Code, all of the grantors ad beneficiaries of which are natural persons or charitable entities as described in Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code, excluding a trust taxable as a business entity pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-4(b).”).

GrantorTrust

(as definedby I.R.C.

§671)

Individual A(Grantor and Beneficiary

Grantor Trust with Individual Grantor and Beneficiary

48


• Should be a taxable entity because grantor and beneficiary are not natural persons.

• Is the trust a passive entity?

Sole Corporate (Non- Charitable) Grantor

and Beneficiary

Grantor Trust( as defined by I.R.C. §671)

Grantor Trust with Sole Corporate Grantor and Beneficiary

49


• Is the complex trust a taxable entity? See §171.0002(a) ("Except as otherwise provided by this section, 'taxable entity' means a partnership, limited liability partnership, corporation, banking corporation, savings and loan association, limited liability company, business trust, professional association, business association, joint venture, joint stock company, holding company, or other legal entity."); see also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.581, Q&A 15 (“Are trusts subject to the franchise tax? Yes; unless the trust falls under one of the statutory exclusions in TTC 171.0002(c) as a non-taxable entity, it is a taxable entity.”).

• Is the trust a passive entity? Cf. Comp. Rule 3.582(c).

Multiple Individual Beneficiaries

Complex Trust

IndividualA

Grantor

Complex Trust with Individual Grantor and Multiple Individual Beneficiaries

50

• Does Beneficiary A have a “controlling interest” in the trust and in LLC? Cf. Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(4)(A)(ii) (“controlling interest means … for a partnership, association, trust or other entity other than a limited liability company, more than 50%, owned directly or indirectly, of the capital, profits, or beneficial interest in the partnership, association, trust, or other entity”); Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(4)(A)(iii) (“controlling interest means … for a limited liability company, either more than 50%, owned directly or indirectly, of the total membership interest of the limited liability company or more than 50%, owned directly or indirectly, of the beneficial ownership interest in the membership interest of the limited liability company”).

Beneficiary A

Complex Discretionary

Trust

Beneficiary B

Beneficiary CLLC

Complex Discretionary Trust Example

Passive Entities

52

• For federal income tax purposes, who is the taxpayer? See Rev. Rul. 2004-77

• For Texas margin tax purposes, is Parent LP a passive entity? See Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 171.0003(a) (“An entity is a passive entity only if: (1) the entity is a general or limited partnership or a trust, other than a business trust; (2) during the period on which margin is based, the entity's federal gross income consists of at least 90 percent of the following income: . . . (C) capital gains from the sale of real property . . . and (3) the entity does not receive more than 10 percent of its federal gross income from conducting an active trade or business.”).

• See Comp. Rul 3.582(c)(1) (“to qualify as a passive entity, the entity must be one of the following for the entire period on which the tax is based: (A) general partnership; (B) limited partnership; (C) limited liability partnership; or (D) trust, other than a business trust;”)

• See Comp. Rule 3.582(c)(2) (“at least 90% of an entity’s federal gross income for the period on which margin is based must consist of the following sources of income:

• (C) net capital gains from the sale of real property. . .(D) royalties from mineral properties, bonuses from mineral properties, delay rental income from mineral properties and income from other non-operating mineral interests including non-operating working interests not described in subsection (d)(2) of this section.”)

• See Comp. Rule 3.582(f)(1) (“Activities that do not constitute an active trade or business: (1) Ownership of a royalty interest of a non-operating working interest in mineral rights.”)

• See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.581, Q&A 12 (“Is a non-Texas entity that owns a royalty interest in an oil and gas well in Texas subject to the franchise tax?” Yes. A royalty interest in an oil and gas well is considered an interest in real property. Therefore a non-Texas entity that owns a royalty interest in an oil and gas well in Texas is considered to own real property in Texas and is subject to the franchise tax unless it is a non-taxable entity.”); Comp. Rul. 3.582 (rules for qualifying as a passive entity).

• See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.590, Q & A 4 (“Can a passive entity be part of a combined group? No, a passive entity cannot be included in a combined group; however, a member of a combined group will include in total revenue the pro rata share of net income from a passive entity to the extent it was not included in the margin of another taxable entity.”).

TexasLimited

Partnership(classified area

partnership for federal income tax purposes)

(“Parent LP”)

Texas LLC(“ALLC”)

Texas LLC(“BLLC”)

Texas LLC

(“S1LLC”)

Texas LLC

(“S2LLC”)Texaslimited

partnership(“SubLP1”)

Texaslimited

partnership(“SubLP2”)[Assume

nonoperator]

PipelineProducing Oil & Gas Leases

Royalty Interests

BA

TexasLimited

Partnership(“Purchaser”)

TexasLimited

Partnership

TexasLimited

Partnership

TexasLimited

Partnership

Texas LLC(“PLLC”)

59% LP

20% LP1% GP

1% GP

99% LP

1% GP

32.333% LP 33.333% LP 33.333% LP

cash

Seller Purchaser

Oil and Gas Example(Sale of Assets)

C

20% LP

cash

cash

53• See Comp. Rul 3.582(c)(1) (“to qualify as a

passive entity, the entity must be one of the following for the entire period on which the tax is based: (A) general partnership; (B) limited partnership; (C) limited liability partnership; or (D) trust, other than a business trust;”)

• See Comp. Rule 3.582(c)(2) (“at least 90% of an entity’s federal gross income for the period on which margin is based must consist of the following sources of income:

• (C) net capital gains from the sale of real property. . .

• (D) royalties from mineral properties, bonuses from mineral properties, delay rental income from mineral properties and income from other non-operating mineral interests including non-operating working interests not described in subsection (d)(2) of this section.”)

• See Comp. Rule 3.582(b)(10) (definition of “Security”)

• (A) an instrument defined by Internal Revenue Code, §475(c)(2), where the holder of the instrument has a non-controlling interest in the issuer/investee;

• (B) an instrument described by Internal Revenue Code, §475(e)(2)(B), (C), (D);

• (C) an interest in a partnership where the investor has a non-controlling interest in the investee;

• (D) an interest in a limited liability company where the investor has a non-controlling interest in the investee; or

• (E) a beneficial interest in a trust where the investor has a non-controlling interest in the investee.

• For federal income tax purposes, who is the taxpayer? See Rev. Rul. 2004-77

• For Texas margin tax purposes, is SubLP1 a passive entity? SubLP2? ParentLP? See Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 171.0003(a) (“An entity is a passive entity only if: (1) the entity is a general or limited partnership or a trust, other than a business trust; (2) during the period on which margin is based, the entity's federal gross income consists of at least 90 percent of the following income: . . . (C) capital gains from the sale of real property . . . and (3) the entity does not receive more than 10 percent of its federal gross income from conducting an active trade or business.”).

TexasLimited



(“Parent LP”)



BA

TexasLimited


TexasLimited

Partnership

TexasLimited

Partnership

TexasLimited

Partnership


59% LP

20% LP1% GP

1% GP

32.333% LP 33.333% LP 33.333% LP

cash

Seller Purchaser

Oil and Gas Example(Sale of Interests)

C

20% LP

Texas LLC

(“S1LLC”)

Texas LLC



Pipeline

Producing Oil & Gas Leases

Royalty Interests

1% GP

99% LP

Texaslimited

partnership(“SubLP2”)[Assume

nonoperator]

54• Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 171.0003(a) (“An entity is a passive entity only if: (1) the entity is a

general or limited partnership or a trust, other than a business trust; (2) during the period on which margin is based, the entity's federal gross income consists of at least 90 percent of the following income: (A) dividends, interest, foreign currency exchange gain, periodic and nonperiodic payments with respect to notional principal contracts, option premiums, cash settlement or termination payments with respect to a financial instrument, and income from a limited liability company; (B) distributive shares of partnership income to the extent that those distributive shares of income are greater than zero; (C) capital gains from the sale of real property, gains from the sale of commodities traded on a commodities exchange, and gains from the sale of securities; and (D) royalties, bonuses, or delay rental income from mineral properties and income from other nonoperating mineral interests; and (3) the entity does not receive more than 10 percent of its federal gross income from conducting an active trade or business.”); Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 171.0003(b) (“The income described by Subsection (a)(2) does not include: (1) rent; or (2) income received by a nonoperator from mineral properties under a joint operating agreement if the nonoperator is a member of an affiliated group and another member of that group is the operator under the same joint operating agreement.”).

• Comp. Rule 3.582(c) (“Qualification as a passive entity: (1) to qualify as a passive entity, the entity must be one of the following for the entire period on which the tax is based: (A) general partnership; (B) limited partnership; (C) limited liability partnership; or (D) trust, other than a business trust; and (2) at least 90% of an entity's federal gross income for the period on which margin is based must consist of the following sources of income: (A) dividends, interest, foreign currency exchange gain, periodic and nonperiodic payments with respect to notional principal contracts, option premiums, cash settlements or termination payments with respect to a financial instrument, and income from a limited liability company; (B) distributive shares of partnership income to the extent that those distributive shares of income are greater than zero; (C) net capital gains from the sale of real property, net gains from the sale of commodities traded on a commodities exchange, and net gains from the sale of securities; and (D) royalties from mineral properties, bonuses from mineral properties, delay rental income from mineral properties and income from other nonoperating mineral interests including nonoperating working interests not described in subsection (d)(2) of this section.”); Comp. Rule 3.582(d) (“The income described by subsection (c)(2) of this section, does not include: (1) rent; or (2) income received by a nonoperator from mineral properties under a joint operating agreement if the nonoperator is a member of an affiliated group and another member of that group is the operator under the same joint operating agreement.”);

• Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.582, Q&A 1 (“An entity is considered passive if it is a general, limited or limited liability partnership, or a non-business trust and the entity's federal gross income during the period on which margin is based consists of at least 90% of the following income: dividends, interest, foreign currency exchange gain, periodic and nonperiodic payments with respect to notational principal contracts, option premiums, cash settlement or termination payments with respect to a financial instrument, and income from a limited liability company; distributive shares of partnership income to the extent that those distributive shares of income are greater than zero; net capital gains from the sale of real property, net gains from the sale of commodities traded on a commodities exchange, and net gains from the sale of securities; and royalties from mineral properties, bonuses from mineral properties, delay rental income from mineral properties and income from other non-operating mineral interests. * * * Rent is not considered passive income for the Texas franchise tax.”).

FLP

HW

Children

ApartmentComplex

MutualFunds

$50KRent

$400KAnnual

Dividendsand Interest

Passive : 11% of Revenues is from rent

EXAMPLE 1

55

LLC

HW

Children

ApartmentComplex

MutualFunds

$30KRent

$400KAnnual

DividendsCapital Gains

Passive?

EXAMPLE 2

56

LimitedPartnership

EXAMPLE 3

Individual

LLC LLC

Operating Business

Property(nonoperator )

LLC

Operator

JOA

JOA OtherUnrelated Parties

57

Cf. Comp. Rule 3.582(d)(2)(“passive income does not include … income received by a nonoperator from mineral properties under a joint operating agreement if the nonoperator is a member of an affiliated group and another member of that group is the operator under the same joint operating agreement); Comp. Rule 3.590(B)(4)(A)(ii)(“controlling interest means … for a partnership, association, trust or other entity other than a limited liability company, more than 50%, owned directly or indirectly, of the capital, profits, or beneficial interest in the partnership, association, trust, or other entity”); Comp. Rule 3.590(b)(4)(C)(In addition to the foregoing tests, the comptroller may consider any other circumstance that tends to demonstrate that the more than 50% direct or indirect common ownership test was met or was not met.)

Individual(“I”)

Operating Business

Other Unrelated Parties

UnrelatedOperator

Mineral Interest(nonoperator)

LimitedPartnership

LLC LLC

JOA

LimitedPartnership

LLC LLC

JOA

UnrelatedParties

Operator

working interest

LLC

JOA

UnrelatedParties

Operator

Complex Trust for I’s

kids

working interest

EXAMPLE 4

LLC

JOA

UnrelatedParties

Operator

Complex Trust for I’s Wife and I’s

kids

working interest

58

Planning for Conversion to a Limited Partnership

B

LLC

LimitedPartnership

A

1%

LLC

BA

• See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.582, Q & A 5 (“If an LLC converts to a limited partnership can the entity qualify for passive if it meets the 90% passive income test? To qualify as a passive entity, the entity must be a partnership or trust, other than a business trust, for the entire accounting period on which the tax is based. The entity may not qualify as passive for the accounting period during which the conversion occurs even if it meets the 90% income test. The entity may qualify as passive for subsequent reports.”).

Joint Operating Arrangements

60


• A, B, C and D can elect out of application of partnership treatment under Subchapter K if certain conditions are met, including:

1) The participants are involved in the joint production, extraction, or use of property; and

2) The participants own the property as co-owners, either in fee or under lease or other form of contract granting exclusive operating rights, and

3) The participants reserve the right separately to take in kind or dispose of their shares of any property produced, extracted, or used, and

4) The participants do not jointly sell services or the property produced or extracted, although each separate participant may delegate authority to sell his share of the property produced or extracted for the time being for his account, but not for a period of time in excess of the minimum needs of the industry, and in no event for more than one year.

Treas. Reg. § 1.761-2(a)(3)


• §171.0002(a)(Joint venture does not include a joint operating arrangement meeting the requirements of Treas. Reg. §1.761-2(a)(3) that elects out of federal partnership treatment under I.R.C. §761(a)); Comp. Rule 3.581(c)(10)(“Taxable entities include …joint ventures, except joint operating or co-ownership arrangements meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulation 1.761-2(a)(3) that elect out of federal partnership treatment as provided by Internal Revenue Code, §761(a).”).

A B C D

Joint Operating Agreement

Joint Operating Agreement

25% working interest




61

Mineral Working Interest, L.P.(Operator)

LLCNatural Person

40%60%

L.P. includes working interest dollars in gross revenueLLC excludes income allocation from L.P.

Mineral Royalty, L.P.

LLCNatural Person

40%60%

LLC must include income in margin tax gross revenue

ACTIVE PASSIVE

62

Parent Corporation

Shareholders

Cash Purchase of Sub StockWith Section 338(h)(10) Election

Sub

“Old Sub”Unrelated Purchaser

“New Sub”

Deemed sale price

Deemed sale of assets

Section 338(h)(10) – Part I

“Old Sub”

Section 338(h)(10) – Part II

Old Sub liquidates into Parent

Sub stock

1. Old Sub is treated as transferring all of its assets by sale to New Sub .

2. Old Sub recognizes the deemed sale gain while a member of the selling consolidated group .

3. After the deemed sale, Old Sub is then treated as transferring all of its assets to members of the selling consolidated group .

Joint & Several Liability

64

Parent Corporation

LLC No. 1

LLC No. 2

LLC No. 3

LLC No. 4

LLC No. 5

Operating Subsidiary

No. 1


No. 2


No. 3


No. 4


No. 5

JOINT & SEVERAL LIABILITY – ILLUSTRATION NO. 1

Assume sale of 100% of interests in LLC No. 5 or all of

assets in LLC No. 5

§171. 1014(i): Each member of the combined group shall be jointly and severally liable for

the tax of the combined group.

65

DelawareLimited

Partnership

General Partner LLC Investors

LLC No. 1

LLC No. 2

LLC No. 3

LLC No. 4

LLC No. 5

LLC No. 6


Assume sale of 100% of interests in LLC No. 6 (or, alternatively,

assume LLC No. 6 files for bankruptcy).

66


LimitedPartnership

No. 1

LimitedPartnership

No. 2

LimitedPartnership

No. 3

LimitedPartnership

No. 4

Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate

Individual Service Partner

BigReal EstateCompany

LLCNo. 1

LLCNo. 2

LLCNo. 3

LLCNo. 4

90% LP 90% LP 90% LP 90% LP

10% GP 10% GP 10% GP 10% GP

Assume Bankruptcy Petition Filed

100% LP 100% LP 100% LP 100% LP

67

MAJOR APPORTIONMENT ISSUESFOR TRANSACTION ATTORNEYS

BASIC FORMULABASIC FORMULA

COMBINED GROUPTAX BASE

x

TEXAS GROSS RECEIPTS

TOTAL GROSS RECEIPTS

(EXCLUDING FOREIGN)

68

MAJOR SOURCES OF TEXAS RECEIPTS

Services performed in TexasServices performed in Texas

See 34 TAC 3.591

Texas real estate revenue / sale or leaseTexas real estate revenue / sale or lease

Texas mineral revenueTexas mineral revenue

TPP delivered in Texas to purchaser / lessee(Throwback rule deleted)

TPP delivered in Texas to purchaser / lessee(Throwback rule deleted)

Dividends / interest look to location of PayorDividends / interest look to location of Payor

Selected Statutory References

70Transacting Business in Texas for Purposes of Determining WhetherForeign Entity Must Register to Transact Business in Texas

Tex. Bus. Org. Code Ann. § 9.001(a) (Vernon 2010) (“To transact business in this state, a foreign entity must register under this chapter if the entity: (1) is a foreign corporation, foreign limited partnership, foreign limited liability company, foreign business trust, foreign real estate investment trust, foreign cooperative, foreign public or private limited company, or another foreign entity, the formation of which, if formed in this state, would require the filing under Chapter 3 of a certificate of formation; or (2) affords limited liability under the law of its jurisdiction of formation for any owner or member.”).

Tex. Bus. Org. Code Ann § 9.001(b) (Vernon 2010) (“A foreign entity described by Subsection (a) must maintain the entity’s registration while transacting business in this state.”).

Tex. Bus. Org. Code Ann. § 9.251 (Vernon 2010) (“Activities Not Constituting Transacting Business in This State) For purposes of this chapter, activities that do not constitute transaction of business in this state include: (1) maintaining or defending an action or suit or an administrative or arbitration proceeding, or effecting the settlement of: (A) such an action, suit, or proceeding; or (B) a claim or dispute to which the entity is a party; (2) holding a meeting of the entity’s managerial officials, owners, or members or carrying on another activity concerning the entity’s internal affairs; (3) maintaining a bank account; (4) maintaining an office or agency for: (A) transferring, exchanging, or registering securities the entity issues; or (B) appointing or maintaining a trustee or depositary related to the entity’s securities; (5) voting the interest of an entity the foreign entity has acquired; (6) effecting a sale through an independent contractor; (7) creating, as borrower or lender, or acquiring indebtedness or a mortgage or other security interest in real or personal property; (8) securing or collecting a debt due the entity or enforcing a right in property that secures a debt due the entity; (9) transacting business in interstate commerce; (10) conducting an isolated transaction that: (A) is completed within a period of 30 days; and (B) is not in the course of a number of repeated, similar transactions; (11) in a case that does not involve an activity that would constitute the transaction of business in this state if the activity were one of a foreign entity acting in its own right: (A) exercising a power of executor or administrator of the estate of a nonresident decedent under ancillary letters issued by a court of this state; or (B) exercising a power of a trustee under the will of a nonresident decedent, or under a trust created by one or more nonresidents of this state, or by one or more foreign entities; (12) regarding a debt secured by a mortgage or lien on real or personal property in this state: (A) acquiring the debt in a transaction outside this state or in interstate commerce; (B) collecting or adjusting a principal or interest payment on the debt; (C) enforcing or adjusting a right or property securing the debt; (D) taking an action necessary to preserve and protect the interest of the mortgagee in the security; or (E) engaging in any combination of transactions described by this subdivision; (13) investing in or acquiring, in a transaction outside of this state, a royalty or other nonoperating mineral interest; or (14) the execution of a division order, contract of sale, or other instrument incidental to ownership of a nonoperating mineral interest.”).

Tex. Bus. Org. Code Ann. § 9.252 (Vernon 2010) (“Other Activities The list provided by Section 9.251 is not exclusive of activities that do not constitute transacting business in this state for the purposes of this code.”).

Cf. Tex. Bus. Org. Code § 9.054(a) (Vernon 2010) (“The secretary of state may collect from a foreign filing entity a late filing fee if the entity has transacted business in this state for more than 90 days without registering under this chapter. The secretary may condition the effectiveness of a registration after the 90-day period on the payment of the late filing fee.”).

Cf. Tex. Bus. Org. Code § 9.054(b) (Vernon 2010) (“The amount of the late filing fee is an amount equal to the product of the amount of the registration fee for the foreign filing entity multiplied by the number of calendar years that the entity transacted business in this state without being registered. For purposes of computing the fee, a partial calendar year is counted as a full calendar year.”)

71Nexus for Texas Franchise Tax Purposes

Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 171.001 (Vernon 2010). (“Tax Imposed (a) A franchise tax is imposed on each taxable entity that does business in this state or that is chartered or organized in this state. (b) The tax imposed under this chapter extends to the limits of the United States Constitution and the federal law adopted under the United States Constitution. (c) The tax imposed under this section or Section 171.0011 is not imposed on an entity if, during the period on which the report is based, the entity qualifies as a passive entity as defined by Section 171.0003.”).

72Unitary Business

Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 171.0001(17) (Vernon 2010) (“Unitary business” means a single economic enterprise that is made up of separate parts of a single entity or of a commonly controlled group of entities that are sufficiently interdependent, integrated, and interrelated through their activities so as to provide a synergy and mutual benefit that produces a sharing or exchange of value among them and a significant flow of value to the separate parts. In determining whether a unitary business exists, the comptroller shall consider any relevant factor, including whether: (A) the activities of the group members are in the same general line, such as manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing of tangible personal property, insurance, transportation, or finance; (B) the activities of the group members are steps in a vertically structured enterprise or process, such as the steps involved in the production of natural resources, including exploration, mining, refining, and marketing; or (C) the members are functionally integrated through the exercise of strong centralized management, such as authority over purchasing, financing, product line, personnel, and marketing.”).

Selected Texas AdministrativeCode References

74

34 Tex. Admin. Code § 3.586 (2010):

(a) Effective date. The provisions of this section apply to franchise tax reports originally due on or after January 1, 2008.

(b) A taxable entity is subject to franchise tax in this state when it has sufficient contact with this state to be taxed without violating the United States Constitution.

(c) Some specific activities which subject a taxable entity to Texas franchise tax include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) advertising: entering Texas to purchase, place, or display advertising when the advertising is for the benefit of another and in the ordinary course of business (e.g., the foreign taxable entity makes signs and brings them into Texas, sets them up, and maintains them);

(2) consignments: having consigned goods in Texas;

(3) contracting: performance of a contract in Texas regardless of whether the taxable entity brings its own employees into the state, hires local labor, or subcontracts with another;

(4) delivering: delivering into Texas items it has sold;

(5) employees or representatives: having employees or representatives in Texas doing the business of the taxable entity;

(6) federal enclaves: doing business in any area within Texas, even if the area is leased by, owned by, ceded to, or under the control of the federal government;

(7) franchisors: entering into one or more contracts with persons, corporations, or other business entities located in Texas, by which:

(A) the franchisee is granted the right to engage in the business of offering, selling, or distributing goods or services under a marketing plan or system prescribed in substantial part by the franchisor; and

(B) the operation of a franchisee's business pursuant to such plan is substantially associated with the franchisor's trademark, service mark, trade name, logotype, advertising, or other commercial symbol designating the franchisor or its affiliate.

(8) holding companies: maintaining a place of business in Texas or managing, directing, and/or performing services in Texas for subsidiaries or investee entities;

(9) inventory: having an inventory in Texas or having spot inventory for the convenient delivery to customers, even if the bulk of orders are filled from out of state;

(10) leasing: leasing tangible personal property which is used in Texas;

(11) loan production activities: soliciting sales contracts or loans, gathering financial data, making credit checks, collecting accounts, repossessing property or performing other financial activities in Texas through employees, independent contractors, or agents, regardless of whether they reside in Texas;

Nexus for Texas Franchise Tax Purposes

75

(12) partners:

(A) acting as a general partner in a general partnership which is doing business in Texas;

(B) acting as a general partner in a limited partnership which is doing business in Texas (a foreign taxable entity which is a limited partner in a limited partnership is not doing business in Texas, if that is the limited partner's only connection with Texas);

(13) place of business: maintaining a place of business in Texas;

(14) processing: assembling, processing, manufacturing, or storing goods in Texas;

(15) real estate: holding, acquiring, leasing, or disposing of any property located in Texas;

(16) services, including, but not limited to the following:

(A) providing any service in Texas, regardless of whether the employees, independent contractors, agents, or other representatives performing the services reside in Texas;

(B) maintaining or repairing property located in Texas whether under warranty or by separate contract;

(C) installing, erecting, or modifying property in Texas;

(D) conducting training classes, seminars or lectures in Texas;

(E) providing any kind of technical assistance in Texas, including, but not limited to, engineering services; or

(F) investigating, handling or otherwise assisting in resolving customer complaints in Texas.

(17) shipment: sending materials to Texas to be stored awaiting orders for their shipment;

(18) shows and performances: the staging of or participating in shows, theatrical performances, sporting events, or other events within Texas;

(19) solicitation: having employees, independent contractors, agents, or other representatives in Texas, regardless of whether they reside in Texas, to promote or induce sales of the foreign taxable entity's goods or services;

(20) telephone listing: having a telephone number that is answered in Texas; or

(21) transportation:

(A) carrying passengers or freight (any personal property including oil and gas transmitted by pipeline) from one point in Texas to another point within the state, if pickup and delivery, regardless of origination or ultimate destination, occurs within Texas; or

(B) having facilities and/or employees, independent contractors, agents, or other representatives in Texas, regardless of whether they reside in Texas:

Nexus for Texas Franchise Tax Purposes, cont.

76

(i) for storage, delivery, or shipment of goods;

(ii) for servicing, maintaining, or repair of vehicles, trailers, containers, and other equipment;

(iii) for coordinating and directing the transportation of passengers or freight; or

(iv) for doing any other business of the taxable entity.

(d) See §3.583 of this title (relating to Margin: Exemptions) for information concerning exemption for certain trade show participants under Tax Code, §171.084.

(e) Public Law 86-272 (15 United States Code §§381 - 384) does not apply to the franchise tax.

Nexus for Texas Franchise Tax Purposes, cont.

77Unitary Business

34 Tex. Admin. Code § 3.590(b)(6) (2010):

“Unitary business--A single economic enterprise that is made up of separate parts of a single entity or of a commonly controlled group of entities that are sufficiently interdependent, integrated, and interrelated through their activities so as to provide a synergy and mutual benefit that produces a sharing or exchange of value among them and a significant flow of value to the separate parts. In determining whether a unitary business exists, the comptroller shall consider any relevant factor, including:

(A) whether:

(i) activities of the group members are in the same general line, such as manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing of tangible personal property, transportation, or finance;

(ii) the activities of the group members are steps in a vertically structured enterprise or process, such as the steps involved in the production of natural resources, including exploration, mining, refining, and marketing; or

(iii) the members are functionally integrated through the exercise of strong centralized management, such as authority over purchasing, financing, product line, personnel, and marketing.

(B) Other factors. In addition, the comptroller may consider other factors that may be applicable, including guidelines in Supreme Court decisions that presume activities are unitary. All affiliated entities are presumed to be engaged in a unitary business.

(C) New entities. When a taxable entity acquires another entity, a presumption exists for finding a unitary relationship during the first reporting period. Any party may rebut such presumption by proving that the taxable entities were not unitary. If such presumption is rebutted, then the taxable entities shall not be considered unitary as of the date of acquisition. When a taxable entity forms another taxable entity, a unitary relationship exists as of the date of formation unless the business is not unitary on a longer term basis. An acquired entity is required to file a report for the period prior to acquisition.

(D) Non-arm's-length prices. Goods or services or both are supplied at non-arm's length prices between or among entities. Existence of arm's-length pricing between entities, however, does not indicate lack of unity.

(E) Existence of benefits from joint, shared or common activity. A discount, cost-saving or other benefit can be shown to result from joint purchases, leaseholds, or other forms of joint, shared or common activities between or among entities.

(F) Relationships of joint, shared or common activity to income-producing operations. In determining whether a joint, shared, or common activity is indicative of a unitary relationship, consideration shall be given to the nature and character of the basic operations of each entity. Such consideration shall include, but not be limited to, the entity's sources of supply, its goods or services produced or sold, its labor force, and market to determine whether the joint, shared, or common activity is directly beneficial to, related to, or reasonably necessary to the income-producing activities of the unitary business.

(G) Holding entities. The tests for a unitary business established by this section apply in determining whether a holding entity is included or excluded from a unitary business.”

Selected Comptroller’sFrequently Asked Questions

79Unitary Business

Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.590, Q&A 6 (“What does unitary business mean? A unitary business means a single economic enterprise that is made up of separate parts of a single entity or of a commonly controlled group of entities that are sufficiently interdependent, integrated, and interrelated through their activities so as to provide a synergy and mutual benefit that produces a sharing or exchange of value among them and a significant flow of value to the separate parts.”).

Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.590, Q&A 7 (“What factors are considered in determining a unitary business? Factors to be considered in determining a unitary business include whether the activities of the members are: in the same general line of business, or steps in a vertically structured enterprise or process, or functionally integrated through the exercise of strong centralized management.”).

Selected Other References

81Transacting Business in Texas for Purposes of Determining WhetherForeign Entity Must Register to Transact Business in Texas

Cf. 2008 Letter from Texas Secretary of State Advising Foreign-Filing Entity of Certificate of Registration Requirement for Transacting Business in Texas (“Our records indicate that XXXX has not registered with this office and may be transacting business in Texas. A foreign-filing entity must file an Application for Registration if it ‘transacts business’ in Texas. Texas statutes do not specifically define ‘transacting business’; however, the Texas Business Organizations Code Sec. 9.251 lists 14 activities that do not constitute ‘transacting business.’ Generally, a foreign entity is transacting business in Texas if it has an office or an employee in Texas or is otherwise pursuing one of its purposes in Texas. In addition, the Texas Attorney General has held that a foreign corporate general partner of a Limited Partnership or a foreign corporate manager of a Limited Liability Company must register to transact business in Texas.”).

82

DRAFT: November 4, 2008

General Partner’s Authority to File Combined Report. If, for any tax period, the Partnership (1) is part of a combined group for Texas franchise tax purposes (the “Combined Group”), and (2) is required to join in the filing of a combined report for Texas franchise tax purposes for such period, or is permitted to do so and the General Partner, in its sole discretion, determines that such a filing is desirable, the General Partner is authorized to file on behalf of the Partnership any consents, elections, and other documents and take such other action as may be necessary or appropriate to file such a combined report. (For purposes of this Section 0, any period for which the Partnership is included in a combined report for Texas franchise tax purposes is hereinafter referred to in this Agreement as a “Combined Report Year.”)

Liability to Other Combined Group Members for Partnership Combined Report Years. If the Partnership is included in a Combined Group for a Combined Report Year, the Partnership shall be responsible for paying and shall indemnify any other members of the Combined Group for any Texas franchise taxes for which the Partnership would have been liable for that year, computed as though the Partnership had filed a separate franchise tax return for such Partnership Combined Report Year (such amount, the “Separate Return Tax”). To the extent another member of the Combined Group pays the Partnership’s Separate Return Tax for any Combined Report Year (such member, the “Paying Member”), the General Partner is authorized to reimburse the Paying Member for such tax.

Interim Estimated Payments. If the Combined Group is required to make estimated franchise tax payments during a Combined Report Year, the Partnership shall reimburse the Paying Member, if any, for the portion of the estimated tax payments that are attributable to the inclusion of the Partnership in the Combined Group (calculated in accordance with the principles set forth in Section 0). Any such reimbursed amounts so paid by in any year shall operate to reduce the Separate Return Tax obligation of the Partnership pursuant to Section 0. The General Partner shall request a refund from the Paying Member in the event the total estimated tax payments for a Combined Report Year exceed the Separate Return Tax for such year.

Combined Reporting for Texas Franchise Tax Purposes

83

Tax Adjustments. In the event of any adjustment to the tax returns of the members of the Combined Group as filed (by reason of an amended return, claim for refund, or an audit by the Office of the Texas Comptroller (the “Comptroller”)), the liability of the members of the Combined Group under Sections 2 and 5 shall be redetermined to give effect to any such adjustment as if it has been made as part of the original computation of tax liability, and members of the Combined Group shall satisfy any underpayments or overpayments within the Combined Group within 30 days after any deficiency payments are made to the Comptroller or refunds are received from the Comptroller, or, in the case of contested proceedings, within 30 days after a final determination of the contest.

Partnership Subsidiaries. All taxable entities owned by the Partnership that are includable as members of the Combined Group shall be subject to this Agreement. If at any time the Partnership acquires or creates one or more taxable entities that are includable as members of the Combined Group, they shall be subject to this Agreement and all references to the Partnership herein shall thereafter be interpreted to refer to the Partnership and such entities as a group.

Intent and Interpretation. The intent of this Section is that the Partnership should make the Paying Member whole, without more, by reimbursing the Paying Member only to the extent of the Partnership’s Separate Return Tax. Any ambiguity in the interpretation hereof shall be resolved, with a view to effectuating such intent, in favor of the Paying Member.

Combined Reporting for Texas Franchise Tax Purposes (cont.)

CONSIDERATIONS FOR ACQUISITIONS IN A RECOVERING ECONOMY

85Taxable Asset Sale By IndividualScenario No. 1A:

Business Assets Held Directly by Individual

Scenario No. 2A:Business Assets Held by Limited

Liability Company Wholly-Owned by Individual

Scenario No. 3A:Business Assets Held by Single-

Owner Limited Partnership

Scenario No. 1B:Business Assets Held Directly

by Individual and Spouse

Scenario No. 2B:Business Assets Held by Limited

Liability Company Owned by Individual and Spouse

Scenario No. 3B:Spouse Owns Community

Interest

I

Operating Business Assets

Limited Liability

Company

Operating Business Assets Operating

Business Assets

I I

100%

100%

99% LP

1% GP

I


Sp

CommunityInterest

I Sp

Limited Liability

Company



ISp

CommunityInterest

LimitedPartnership

Limited Liability

CompanyCommunityInterest

99% LP

1% GP

LimitedPartnership


86Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Direct Purchase of Business

Assets from Limited Partnership for Cash

LimitedPartnership

Purchaser

LLC

IndividualA

IndividualB

IndividualC

Cash

AssetsBusiness Assets

87

Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Direct Purchase of Assets from C Corporation for Cash

Purchaser

IndividualA

IndividualB

IndividualC

Business Assets

CCorporation

Cash

88

Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Direct Purchase of Assets from S Corporation for Cash

Purchaser

IndividualA

IndividualB

IndividualC

Cash

Assets

SCorporation

89

Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Direct Purchase of Assets for Cash and Note

Purchaser

Promissory Note

Assets

Seller

Cash Down payment

90Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Acquisition of Interest in Single-Member Limited Liability Company for Cash; Cash is Retained by Seller and is not

contributed to the LLC

UnrelatedPurchaser (P)

Assets Assets


(classified as disregarded entity for Federal income tax

purposes]


(classified as partnership for Federal income tax

purposes]

S P S

50% 50%

Cash [Retained by S]

50% Interest in LLC

Example: Purchase of 50% Interest in LLC for Cash Paid to S [not contributed to LLC]

91Compare: Acquisition of Interest in Single-Member Limited Liability Company for Cash Contributed to Company

UnrelatedPurchaser (P)

AssetsAssets

(including contributed cash)



S P S

50% 50%

Cash

50% Interest in LLC

Example: Purchase of 50% Interest in LLC for Cash Contributed to Limited Liability Company

92Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: 50% Co-Owner’s Acquisition of Other Co-

Owner’s Interest in Limited Liability Company

AssetsAssets


(classified as disregarded entity for Federal income tax

purposes]


(classified as partnership for Federal income tax

purposes]

BA B

50% 50%

Cash

50% Interest in LLC

93Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: 100% of Interests in Multi-Member Limited

Liability Company by Unrelated Person

AssetsAssets

EC D

50% 50%

Cash



E

Cash

LLC Interest

LLC Interest

100%

94

PurchasingLimited

Partnership

Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Acquisition of 100% of Partnership Interests in Limited Partnership (Not a Disregarded Entity) by Unrelated Person

TargetLimited

Partnership

LLC

Assets

LLC

IndividualA

IndividualB

IndividualC

LLC

General Partner Interest

Cash

IndividualD

IndividualE

IndividualF

PurchasingLimited

Partnership

LLC

IndividualA

IndividualB

IndividualC

LimitedPartnership

LLC

99% LP100%

1% GP

Cash

Limited Partner Interest

95

Taxpayer

LimitedPartnership

LLC

LP

GP

100%

ONE PERSON PARTNERSHIP – REV. RUL. 2004-77

96

LimitedPartnership

A

LimitedPartnership

Assets

Limited Liability

Company


Company

A

B

C

1% GP

1% GP

33%LP

33%LP

33%LP

99%LP

100%

DISREGARDED PARTNERSHIP STRUCTURE

97

Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Acquisition of Interest in Disregarded Entity with Assets for Cash from Multiple – Member Limited Partnership

LimitedPartnershipPurchaser

LLC

IndividualA

IndividualB

IndividualC

Cash

LimitedPartnership

Assets

LLC

LLC

Assets

99% LP100%

1% GP

98

Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Purchase of Less than 50% Interest in Multi-Member Partnership or Limited Liability Company

LimitedPartnership

Purchaser

LLC

IndividualA

IndividualB

IndividualC

Assets

33% LP

33% LP

33% LP1% GP

33%

33%

33%

33% LP and LP Interest

A’s 33% LLC Interest

Cash to A

99

TexasLimited



(“Parent LP”)



Texas LLC

(“S1LLC”)

Texas LLC



Texaslimited



Royalty Interests

BA

TexasLimited


TexasLimited

Partnership

TexasLimited

Partnership

TexasLimited

Partnership


59% LP

20% LP1% GP

1% GP

99% LP

1% GP

32.333% LP 33.333% LP 33.333% LP

cash

For federal income tax purposes, who is the taxpayer? See Rev. Rul. 2004-77

For Texas margin tax purposes, is Parent LP a passive entity? See Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 171.0003(a) (“An entity is a passive entity only if: (1) the entity is a general or limited partnership or a trust, other than a business trust; (2) during the period on which margin is based, the entity's federal gross income consists of at least 90 percent of the following income: . . . (C) capital gains from the sale of real property . . . and (3) the entity does not receive more than 10 percent of its federal gross income from conducting an active trade or business.”).

Seller Purchaser

Oil and Gas Example(Sale of Assets)

C

20% LP

See Comp. Rul 3.582(c)(1) (“to qualify as a passive entity, the entity must be one of the following for the entire period on which the tax is based: (A) general partnership; (B) limited partnership; (C) limited liability partnership; or (D) trust, other than a business trust;”)

See Comp. Rule 3.582(c)(2) (“at least 90% of an entity’s federal gross income for the period on which margin is based must consist of the following sources of income:

(C) net capital gains from the sale of real property. . .

(D) royalties from mineral properties, bonuses from mineral properties, delay rental income from mineral properties and income from other non-operating mineral interests including non-operating working interests not described in subsection (d)(2) of this section.”)

See Comp. Rule 3.582(f)(1) (“Activities that do not constitute an active trade or business: (1) Ownership of a royalty interest of a non-operating working interest in mineral rights.”)

See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.581, Q&A 12 (“Is a non-Texas entity that owns a royalty interest in an oil and gas well in Texas subject to the franchise tax?” Yes. A royalty interest in an oil and gas well is considered an interest in real property. Therefore a non-Texas entity that owns a royalty interest in an oil and gas well in Texas is considered to own real property in Texas and is subject to the franchise tax unless it is a non-taxable entity.”); Comp. Rul. 3.582 (rules for qualifying as a passive entity).

See also Comp. FAQs, Rule 3.590, Q&A 4 (“Can a passive entity be part of a combined group? No, a passive entity cannot be included in a combined group; however, a member of a combined group will include in total revenue the pro rata share of net income from a passive entity to the extent it was not included in the margin of another taxable entity.”).

cash

cash

100

TexasLimited



(“Parent LP”)



BA

TexasLimited


TexasLimited

Partnership

TexasLimited

Partnership

TexasLimited

Partnership


59% LP

20% LP1% GP

1% GP

32.333% LP 33.333% LP 33.333% LP

cash

For federal income tax purposes, who is the taxpayer? See Rev. Rul. 2004-77

For Texas margin tax purposes, is SubLP1 a passive entity? SubLP2? ParentLP? See Tex. Tax Code Ann. § 171.0003(a) (“An entity is a passive entity only if: (1) the entity is a general or limited partnership or a trust, other than a business trust; (2) during the period on which margin is based, the entity's federal gross income consists of at least 90 percent of the following income: . . . (C) capital gains from the sale of real property . . . and (3) the entity does not receive more than 10 percent of its federal gross income from conducting an active trade or business.”).

Seller Purchaser

Oil and Gas Example(Sale of Interests)

C

20% LP

See Comp. Rul 3.582(c)(1) (“to qualify as a passive entity, the entity must be one of the following for the entire period on which the tax is based: (A) general partnership; (B) limited partnership; (C) limited liability partnership; or (D) trust, other than a business trust;”)

See Comp. Rule 3.582(c)(2) (“at least 90% of an entity’s federal gross income for the period on which margin is based must consist of the following sources of income:

(C) net capital gains from the sale of real property. . .

(D) royalties from mineral properties, bonuses from mineral properties, delay rental income from mineral properties and income from other non-operating mineral interests including non-operating working interests not described in subsection (d)(2) of this section.”)

See Comp. Rule 3.582(b)(10) (definition of “Security”)

(A) an instrument defined by Internal Revenue Code, §475(c)(2), where the holder of the instrument has a non-controlling interest in the issuer/investee;

(B) an instrument described by Internal Revenue Code, §475(e)(2)(B), (C), (D);

(C) an interest in a partnership where the investor has a non-controlling interest in the investee;

(D) an interest in a limited liability company where the investor has a non-controlling interest in the investee; or

(E) a beneficial interest in a trust where the investor has a non-controlling interest in the investee.

Texas LLC

(“S1LLC”)

Texas LLC



Texaslimited



Royalty Interests

1% GP

99% LP

101Sale of Partnership Interest

State Law

SellingLimited

Partnership

LimitedPartnership

LimitedPartner

LimitedPartner

LP Interest

LP Interest

GP Interest

Federal Income Tax

Sale of < 50% of TotalInterests in Partnership

Capital and ProfitsSale of ³ 50% of Total Interestsin Partnership Capital and Profits

(Technical Termination)

A

BB

PartnershipPartnership

PartnershipInterests

DeemedTransfer of

Distribution ofInterests inNew PartnershipIn Liquidation ofOld Partnership

Section 754 Election to step- up purchasing partner’ s proportionate share of partnership’s basis in assets to purchase price.

Sale of ³ 50% Terminates Partnership

Consideration

LP Interest inLimited Partnership

AA

BB

PartnershipPartnership PurchasingPartnership

PurchasingPartnership

LP Interest

Consideration

LimitedPartner

LimitedPartner


New TaxPartnership

A

Limited Liability

Company

Limited Liability

Company


Limited Liability

Company

102Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Example of Reverse Subsidiary Cash Merger (See, e.g., Rev.

Rul. 73-427; Rev. Rul. 78-250; Rev. Rul. 79-273; Rev. Rul. 90-95)

Purchasing C Corporation

Shareholders

C Corporation Target

Transitory C Corporation

Subsidiary

Shareholders

All Cash Consideration

Mergerwith and into

C CorporationTarget with

Target surviving

PC Corporation

Shareholders

TargetC Corporation

XNewly FormedC Corporation

Sub

Shareholders

All Cash Consideration

(1) Merger with and into newly

formed C corporation sub

Compare Example of Forward Cash Merger (See Rev. Rul. 69-6)

Purchasing C Corporation

Shareholders

C Corporation Target

(2) Liquidation

Treated as sale of Target’s assets to Newco followed by liquidation of

Target

P(C Corporation)

Shareholders

X(C Corporation)

Sub

See, e.g., CCA 201004902

103Forms of Taxable Acquisitions: Example of Acquisition of C Corporation Stock – Regular §338 Election

[not Section 338(h)(10) election](RARE)

C CorporationPurchaser

C Corporation (Old Target)

C Corporation Seller

Cash

100% Stock

C Corporation (New Target)

Qualified stock purchase by corporation. Purchaser makes §338 election. Target is treated as if it (as Old Target) sold all of its assets as of the close of the

acquisition date at fair market value and (as New Target) purchased all of the assets as of the beginning of the date after the acquisition date.

If Old Target is part of a selling consolidated group, Old Target files a special final return (which is not consolidated with either the selling corporation or purchasing corporation’s consolidated group).

Regular Section §338 election (as opposed to a Section 338(h)(10) election) generally does not change the tax treatment of the selling shareholders – they are still taxed on their stock sale, notwithstanding the purchasing corporation’s regular Section §338 election.

Benefit of regular Section §338 election is very limited.

Assume consolidated group

104

Parent Corporation

Shareholders

Example of Cash Purchase of Subsidiary C Corporation StockWith Section 338(h)(10) Election

Sub

“Old Sub”Unrelated Purchaser

“New Sub”

Deemed sale price

Deemed sale of assets

Section 338(h)(10) – Part I

“Old Sub”

Section 338(h)(10) – Part II

Old Sub liquidates into Parent

Sub stock

1. Old Sub is treated as transferring all of its assets by sale to New Sub.

2. Old Sub recognizes the deemed sale gain while a member of the selling consolidated group.

3. After the deemed sale, Old Sub is then treated as transferring all of its assets to members of the selling consolidated group.

Qualified stock purchase by corporation. §338(h)(10) election made jointly by selling shareholders and purchasing

corporation. §338(h)(10) changes tax treatment of Old Target and selling shareholders. Old Target is deemed to sell all of its assets in a single transaction while a member

of the selling consolidated group (or while a non-consolidated affiliate or while an S corporation owned by the selling shareholders).

Old Target is then deemed immediately thereafter to distribute its assets in complete liquidation to the members of the selling consolidated group who sold the target stock (or to the selling affiliate or to all of the S corporation shareholders).

105

I

Tax-Free Transfer of Assets to Partnership

Scenario No. 1

LimitedPartnership

Limited Liability

Company59.5% Limited Partner Interest

39.5% Limited Partner Interest

Operating Business

Cash

Cash

Cash40%

60%

Scenario No. 2

Investor Group

I

LimitedPartnership

Limited Liability

Company59.5% Limited Partner Interest

39.5% Limited Partner Interest

Operating Business

Cash

Cash

Cash40%

60%

Investor Group

1% GP

Sp

Community interest

1% GP

106

I

Tax-Free Transfer of Assets to Corporation

Scenario No. 1

C Corporation

60% of Common Stock

Operating Business Cash

Scenario No. 2

40% of Common Stock

I

C Corporation

60% of Common Stock

Operating Business

Cash

40% of Common Stock

Investor Group

Investor Group

Sp

CommunityInterest

107

Selected Forms of Nontaxable Reorganizations:

• “A” Reorganization (368(a)(1)(A))

• “B” Reorganization (368(a)(1)(B))

• “C” Reorganization (368(a)(1)(C))

• “D” Reorganization (368(a)(1)(D))

• Triangular Mergers (368(a)(2)(D) and 368(a)(2)(E))

108

Illustration of Forms of Nontaxable Acquisitions: Type A Reorganization

C Corporation(T)

C Corporation(P)

AShareholders

BShareholders

C Corporation(P)

A BShareholders

Merger

P Common Stock

109

Illustration of Forms of Nontaxable Acquisitions: Type A Reorganization (Merged into Disregarded LLC Owned by P)

(Sec. Treas. Reg. § 1.368-2(b)(1)(iii) Example 2)

C Corporation(T)

C Corporation(P)

AShareholders

BShareholders

Mergerof T into X

P Stock

(X)LLC

(disregarded entiry)

C Corporation(P)

A BShareholders

LLC

110

Illustration of Forms of Nontaxable Acquisitions: Type B Reorganization

TC Corporation

(Target)

C Corporation(P)

AShareholders

BShareholders

T Stock

Solely P Voting Stock

C Corporation(P)

A BShareholders

(“No boot in B”)

TC Corporation

> 80% control immediately after

111

Illustration of Forms of Nontaxable Acquisitions: Type C Reorganization

C CorporationTarget

C Corporation(P)

AShareholders

BShareholders

“substantially all” properties

of Target

P Voting Stock

C Corporation(P)

A BShareholders

Assets(See also I.R.C. § 368(a)(2)(B) (20% boot exception))

Target distributes stocks, securities, and

other properties it reviewed, as well as other properties, in

pursuance of plan of reorganization.

112

Illustration of Forms of Nontaxable Acquisitions: Type D Acquisitive Reorganization

C CorporationTarget

C Corporation(P)

AShareholders

BShareholders

P Stock

C Corporation(P)

A BShareholders

“substantially all” properties

of Target

> 50% Requirement of control by transferor or one or more of its shareholders

Target distributes stocks, securities and

other properties reviewed, as well as other properties of

Target in pursuance of plan or reorganization.

113

P(corporation)[Acquiring]

TCorporation

(Target)

AcquiringShareholders

TargetShareholders

Mergerof Transitory Sub into T

with T surviving

STransitory Subsidiary

P Voting Stock (in exchange

for > 80% stock of T)

Example of Form of Reverse Triangular Merger ((a)(2)(E))


TCorporation

(Target)

AcquiringShareholders

TargetShareholders

Mergerof T into newly-formed S with S

acquiring “substantially

all” T properties

SNewly-Formed

Subsidiary

P Stock

Example of Form of Forward Triangular Merger ((a)(2)(D))

Examples of Forms of Nontaxable Acquisitions

T stock (at least > 80%

test)


Acquiring & Target

Shareholders

T(“substantially all”

properties of S&T)


Acquiring & Target

Shareholders

S

114EXAMPLE 1Partnership Merger

Step 1. Identify the SurvivorState Law

AB LimitedPartnership

(calendar year)


(calendar year)

AA BB

49%LP

50%LP

1%GP

CD LimitedPartnership

(calendar year)


(calendar year)

CC DD

49%LP

50%LP

1%GP

Merger

ABCDLimited

Partnership

ABCDLimited

Partnership

CC

DD

AABB

LLCLLC

29%LP

1%GP

30%LP

20%LP

20%LP

ABCDLimited

Partnership

ABCDLimited

Partnership

CDLimited

Partnership

CDLimited

Partnership

Federal Income Tax

(AB Partnership is the Survivor --Now known as ABCD Limited

Partnership for State Law Purposes)

Terminated as of date of Merger

•Files Tax Return forCalendar Year

•Uses EIN of AB Partnership

•Partnership Tax Year closes on Date of Merger

•Required to file PartnershipReturn for “Short Year”

CC

DD

AA BB29%LP 30%

LP20%LP

20%LP

ISSUES:

• Do Partners of AB or Partners of CD own > 50% interest in ABCD?• What are the consequences of terminating and surviving partnership?

LLCLLCLLCLLC

100% 100%

LLCLLC1% GP

115

Federal Income Tax

AB(surviving

partnership)

AB(surviving

partnership)

ASSETS OVER FORM OR ASSETS UP FORM

ABAB

CCDD

LP Interest in AB

CCDD

AssetsAssets

Assets

& Liabilities

LiquidatingDistributionUndivided In

terests

in Assets

EXAMPLE 2

Step 2. Form of Merger Provided by Treasury Regulations.

General Rule: Form of merger “accomplished under applicable jurisdictional law”will be respected if one of two forms prescribed for federal income tax purposes

are followed:

DEFAULT RULE: ASSETS OVER FORM(IF NO FORM UNDERTAKEN FOR MERGER)

LP Interest

CD(terminatingPartnership

CD(terminatingPartnership

CDCD

116

YY

EXAMPLE 3Assets-Over Form of Merger

X(State LawSurvivor)

X(State LawSurvivor)

Y AssetsY AssetsX AssetsX Assets

Net fair market valueof X assets: $100

Net fair market valueof Y assets: $200

40% 60%A B

40%60%

Merger ofY into X

[State law form of merger does not override rules in Regulations]

Distribution ofPartnership Interestto B and liquidation of Y

Federal Income Tax

40% 60%A B

Assets & Liabilities of XTransferred to Y

Partnership Interestsin Y transferred to

X followed byliquidation of X

XTerminated

[net fair marketvalue highest]

C

assets & liabilities

Partnership Interest

STEP 1: Identify the survivor.(a) Do partners of X or partners of Y own > 50% interest in X?

AB and BC both own > 50% interest in X.(b) Which partnership is credited with the contribution of the greatest fair market value (net of

liabilities) to X?Y; therefore, Y is survivor.

STEP 2: What are the consequences?

Y(Survivor)

B C

117EXAMPLE 4Treatment of Interests Over Form of Merger

State Law



AssetsAssets

BB

A

49%LP

50%LP

1%GP



DD

C

49%LP

50%LP1%

GP



AB Limited LiabilityCompany

AB Limited LiabilityCompany

STEP 1: A & B Transfer LP InterestsAnd LLC Interest to CD.

STEP 2: Liquidation of AB Limited Partnership andAB Limited Liability Company



A

49%LP

50%LP

1%GP

Federal Income Tax


(assumed survivor)


(assumed survivor)

49%LP

50%LP

1%GP

STEP 1: AB deemed to transfer assets and liabilities to CD in exchange for CD partnership interests.STEP 2: Distribution of CD Partnership Interests in Liquidation of AB.

AB transfers Assets & Liabilities to CD

In exchange for Partnership Interests

STEP 1: Identify the survivor (assume CD in this example).STEP 2: What consequences follow:

AB LimitedLiability

Company

CD LimitedLiability

Company

BAB LimitedLiability

Company

CD LimitedLiability

Company

C

D

118Cash Out of Partner as Part of Partnership Merger

XPartnership

XPartnership

CC

BBAA

YPartnership

YPartnership

FF

EEDD

Agreement:

1) Specifies purchase of C’s interest for $1502) C Consents to sale treatment

Merger

Assumption: X is terminated partnershipfor federal income tax purposes.

XPartnership

XPartnership

CC

BBAA

YPartnership

YPartnership

FF

EEDD

Step 1: Immediately prior tomerger, Y deemed to purchase

C’s interest in X.

XPartnership

XPartnership

BBAA

YPartnership

YPartnership

FF

EEDD

Step 2: Deemed transfer of assetsattributable to A & B.

Liquidation of Y’ s interest in X (formerly held by C)

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